ALTALAYI Company, the sole agent of Bridgestone products in Saudi Arabia for 60 years, and a subsidiary of Saudi Bugshan Group, has signed a three-year agreement with Al-Ittihad FC for sponsorship of the club's top team as of January. The agreement, which comes as the club prepares to celebrate its 90th anniversary, was signed by Faris Khalid Bugshan, the group's chief executive; and Eng. Hatem Baeshin, Chairman of Al-Ittihad FC. The signing took place during the halftime break of the friendly match between the club and Atletico Madrid, a team in La Liga, Spain's premier league. The match took place at Jeddah's landmark Al-Jawhara Stadium last Friday. "We are proud to be sponsoring Al-Ittihad FC's top team," Bugshan said in a statement. "Al-Ittihad is one of Saudi Arabia's top professional teams, with a long history that's nearly unmatched across the region." The new agreement, he continued, is part of Altalayi's quest to contribute to the community by lending support to Saudi sport, wishing the team more success. He added that the team's official attire will sport Bridgestone brand logo on the upper torso. Eng. Baeshin expressed the team's happiness to have a corporation of Altalayi's caliber for a sponsor, given its impressive status on the national and regional business arenas. "We are glad to be part of this distinguished partnership between two greats, and hope that every one of its objectives is fulfilled," he said. "This contract, along with all other sponsorship contracts that had been signed since the beginning of the season, came not only as a grace of God, but thanks to the club's fans, who impressed potential sponsors with their commitment and devotion to the club, which they manifested through their impressive presence at every match. The fans are the backbone of the team, its achievements, and its fabled history." He called upon the team's fans to continue to rally around their favorite team, promising that the team will do its level best to win the league this season, and to bring home as many national and international victories as it possibly could.
